The Wonderful Life as a Mum

Morning Walk Benefits for You and Baby

2016-05-16T22:41:00.000+02:00

Hello everyone,
Sometimes all we need to do to feel better and relaxed is just a simple walk in the park. It's amazing how much the weather can affect our mood and how we feel.
This weekend we had one of those days when it was misty, slightly sunny, but still very warm.
I like weather like this, especially early in the morning.
One thing a lot of people don't know about me is that I'm an early bird. I like to go out early, feel the fresh air, listen to the birds singing.
My little one loves to be outside as well. He's looking around all curious, smiling and I can tell that he is absorbing all in.
Morning walk is really good exercise that offers many benefits.

The benefits of morning walk for you and the baby:

- Walking outside gives your baby an opportunity to explore the world.

- It will help your baby to be more relaxed and happy.

- Early morning walk will keep you energized for the entire day (I love it).

- Walking boosts vitamin D.

- It will help you to stay fit (walking tones up your legs, bums and tums).

- Morning walk is considered to be important to keep your brain active and healthy.

- It improves your sleep quality.

"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day."
~Henry David Thoreau~

"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking."
~ Friedrich Nietzsche~

Mummy tips:

1. Always take your camera with you when you go out, there's so much beauty around.

2. Don't forget to add or take layers off your baby when needed and remember to protect your baby's delicate skin with the right sunscreen.

''Love''

Dusana

Summer Infant 3 Stage Super Seat

2016-03-31T11:40:00.000+02:00

Hello everyone,
When my little one was learning to sit up, I was thinking of buying a bumbo seat (rubbery chair). They hold the babies weight so they can't fall off. Then I came across Summer Infant 3 Stage Super Seat .

I decided to buy it because it's suitable for the children from 4 months to 4 years old. The sides come up high around the baby, which gives a good support for the baby's back and prevent leaning over. Plus, it has a rotating tray with plenty of space to put an extra toys on it. You can remove the tray and just use the booster seat, which has a seatbelt.The orange part of the chair comes out as well, so when your baby gets bigger he can still use it.
My little one was 4 months old when we started using this seat. He's now 7 months old and he loves his chair a lot. It keeps him occupied for a long time. Once ordered it took only 4 days to be delivered from England to France.

What I like about this seat?

- It helps and support babies to learn to sit up.
- It has a 360˚ rotating tray with loads of activities to keep baby engaged.
- It has 3 stages: soft foam support seat, activity seat, booster seat.
- It's the ideal place to keep your little one entertained, safe and happy.
- It has 4 playful toys and 2 cup hoders.
- It's easy to clean.
- Great for feeding. Whenever I feed my son with solid food I use this chair.

Mummy tips:

I clean the baby seat with Dettol antibacterial surface wipes.
They are safe to use where food is prepared, no bleach, no taint, no odor and no need to rinse. Dettol wipes allows you to disinfect any germ hot spots in one swift wipe. :-)

It's a good investment, I highly recommend this to everyone!

''Love''

Dusana

Statement Necklace from Happiness Boutique

2016-03-21T22:03:00.003+01:00

Happy Spring everyone,
Finally it's getting warmer outside. I'm really excited to spend more days on the sun.
The warmer weather and longer days are my favorite parts of the Spring.

Today I would like to show you a beautiful statement necklace from Happiness Boutique. They contacted me to try their jewelry and share my opinion. Well, nothing like a nice piece of statement jewelry to make you feel confident, am I right?
Happiness Boutique has a lot of lovely necklaces, earrings, bracelets and we all know that a little sparkle bring life to any outfit.
I'm a jewelry girl. I love wearing them, because the right accessories can be a reflection of your style spirit.

What I like about Happiness Boutique ?

1. Their style is timeless classic with a charming vintage touch.
2. Their products are made of high quality material.
3. They have a cute packaging, my necklace came in a lovely white box with the brand logo.
4. They offer worldwide free shipping without a minimum purchase.
5. They have an awesome reward program and hosting many giveaways.

Mummy tips:

- Rather than choosing the most popular fashion jewelry, choose necklaces (bracelets, etc) with unique and interesting details. Something that represents you, that carries meaning.

- As it goes by saying, sometimes less is more.

- Did you know? Plastic drinking straws are perfect to help you pack your necklaces. By inserting half of the necklace into the straw, you avoid them from getting tangled. :-)

''Love''

Dusana

Strawberries Health Benefits

2016-03-14T20:39:00.000+01:00

We all know strawberries are delicious.

I love eating fresh strawberries, they are juicy, sweet and they offer a wide range of health benefits.
In my lifestyle, strawberries play an important role. I usually eat them in the morning half an hour before my breakfast. I eat all fruits before my meal. I believe it's healthier to eat them on empty stomach to help detoxify your system. But, that's just me.

Why I love strawberries?

- They are full of antioxidants.

- They help promote anti-aging.

- Strawberries help maintain a healthy appearance.

- Also promote eye health.

- In addition to vitamin C, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese.

- Full of vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.

- They are as well an excellent source of potassium, riboflavin and folic acid (very important in pregnancy).

- Improve immunity.

- Diuretic due to high potassium content (already mentioned above).

- Regular intake of strawberries helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

- Lowering your risk of heart attack and stroke.

- Aid in weight loss (how cool is that).

Mummy tips:

1. Cut strawberry in half, rub it over your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Strawberries thoroughly cleanse your skin and remove excess oil, impurities and lighten any pigmentation. They help to tone your skin and make it more softer and smoother. It really works, I love how my skin feels after. You can use it rasberry as well, just don't get scared when you'll see your face red afterwards, it will go away.

2. Eating fresh strawberries will also help whiten your teeth. Rub it over your teeth (you can also add baking soda and mix it together), leave on for 5 minutes. The acid in the fruit is said to help remove stains. Brush your teeth afterwards.

Add more strawberries to your diet and get all the health benefits.

''Love''

Dusana

Nursing Pillow Benefits

2016-03-12T21:31:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone,

In the second trimester of your pregnancy, you can already get a breastfeeding pillow. You don't need to wait to give birth, it will be useful before, because your belly will be expanding and you may find it difficult to sleep.

After a few months of being pregnant, when my belly started to show, it became really uncomfortable for me to sleep. I couldn't find my position (I usually sleep on the left side) and I was a bit scared that I might hurt my baby each time I was turning around. I talked about it to my friend and to my doctor and they both advised me to get a maternity pillow.
Nursing pillow is amazing when it comes to feeling comfortable at night and being able to sleep.
It goes around your waist and provide relief to your back, neck, spine and arms. And supports baby while nursing, playing and learning to sit up.
A pregnancy pillow is a great investment. I bought mine from Vertbaudet for 50€.

The nursing pillow can be used in different ways:

1. Before birth you can use it as a pillow to hold your baby when you sleep on the side. With it's horseshoe shape you can wrap it between your legs and support your belly.
It will realase all the pressure you have from carying your baby all day.

2. After birth whether you breastfeed or not, you cannot really go without it.
First, baby is really small and it's much easier and comfortable for him to lay on a soft pillow. Plus, it's great for your back when you breastfeed (or give a bottle) you won't have to bend and your little one is exactly at the right place.

Nursing Pillow Benefits:

- Keeps you comfortable throughout your pregnancy.

- Supports you and baby during feeding time. It helps you maintain good posture to prevent back pain and neck pain.

- Suitable for breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.

- When your baby gets bigger, you can use the pillow as a support and teach your little one the joy of sitting up.

- Cover is removable and machine washable.

There are many breastfeeding pillows on the market, you just have to find the one which is working the best for you.
Go for it and make the last trimester of your pregnancy and breastfeeding a little less painful.

''Love''

Dusana :-)

Maternity Dresses from Asos

2016-03-09T01:02:00.000+01:00

Pregnancy is a unique time of beauty for a woman. Feeling confident, trendy and staying comfortable is important when you're expecting a baby. And being pregnant shouldn't stop that, so have fun styling your bump.

During my pregnancy I loved wearing maternity clothes. I got some cool pregnancy jeans, but my favorite were dresses and skirts. I felt so comfortable and relaxed wearing them. The best thing is they're practical, stretchy and that works perfectly with baby bumps.
I found shopping for maternity clothes online relaxing, it helps me to find what I'm looking for from the comfort zone of my home.

One of my favorite maternity shop is Asos . Asos is a British online fashion and beauty store. Of course it delivers to many countries, so check online for yours.

What's good about Asos maternity clothes ?

1. They have many beautiful and stylish clothes. The dresses have lovely cuts, cute designs and fits really well.

2. They have great quality and good prices (often sales).

3. Fast shipping (5 days to Paris) and free (unless you want to have it the next day delivery).

4. They deliver to many countries and keep you informed on the progress of your order.

5. You can return for free if any issue.

I always had a good experience with Asos maternity and I really recommend it. Loved all the dresses I bought. Those were my top 5.

Mummy tips:

- Trust the size guides. I was buying my normal, pre-pregnancy size (their clothes will stretch where it needs to). And by the end of my pregnancy, I was buying one size up (only if the material was viscose, elastane) otherwise my normal size.

- Mix and match regular clothes, maternity clothes and accessories.

- Through all my pregnancy I was wearing knee high compression stockings. They are very hard to put on, but they improve the blood flow, prevent varicose veins, spider veins, water retention and the best part is that they look similar to normal stockings.

- Ask your doctor to prescribe compression stockings, they will measure your leg at the pharmacy so you get a good fit!

''Love''

Dusana

Pampers Baby-Dry Nappies and Pampers New Baby

2016-03-04T23:41:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone,

One of the biggest budget when you're having a baby is diapers. Your baby will need to be changed many times a day, at the end of the year it's a lot of nappies and it can get quickly pricey!
If you are a new mum like me, you also want to know what type of diapers are the best. Your little one will wear nappy on his skin 95% of the time. You need a reliable nappy that can last dry as long as you need (or at least until the next pee). It's important to know that your baby is happy, comfortable and protected.

When you buy nappies there are usually more choices. Pampers and the brand (for example of the shop you are in). Of course the brand from the shop is often much cheaper, but is it less good?

From my own experience I can say Pampers is more expensive, but definitely worth it.
My boy is now over 6 months old and at the moment I'm using during the day Pampers new baby size 3. He is very active and Pampers keeps him comfortable when his rolling around or trying to crawl.

At night I'm using Pampers baby-dry size 3+ and I must say they are quite impressive. Sometimes he sleeps up to 10 hours, he wakes up happy with a big smile and could easily play another hour before I change him. Plus, he never got irritations due to the nappies.

What I like about Pampers new baby?

- They come with soft stretchy sides and overlapping fasteners to give a flexible fit.
- They come with a color changing wetness indicator that tells you when your baby need a fresh nappy.
- They are ultra soft, comfortable and breathable.
- They absorb and holds everything perfectly.
- Lovely design and easy to put on :-)

What I like about Pampers baby-dry?

- They keep my son dry up to 12 hours.
- They absorb well, which means no leak.
- They fit perfectly, no red marks or rash after wearing them.
- Very soft and comfortable.
- Perfect for the night sleep.
- Lovely design and easy to put on :-)

Mummy tips:

- I use Pampers baby-dry also for traveling, they keep my boy dry and comfortable during the flight.

- At night I always pull his diaper high to prevent leakage. My little one loves to sleep on the side and fastening the tape as high as possible really helps.

- I keep ordering mine from Boots (UK's leading pharmacy-led healthy and beauty retailer.) Great prices and fast shipping to many countries.

''Love''
Dusana

Pure Cotton Sleeping Bag from M&S

2016-02-29T00:28:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone,

Today I would like to talk to you about sleeping bags.
If you are soon giving birth or are already the mother of a newborn, you know that you'll need to purchase one of those. But which one to choose? There are a lot of choices and many different prices.

First, let's see what's so good about sleeping bags!

- They prevent babies getting tangled up in bed while they sleep.
- Sudden change of temperature disturb baby's sleep. My boy is very active so it stops him from kicking the blanket off during the night.
- Very easy to put on and safe.
- Your baby will look really cute in it!

Here are a few questions and answers to help you make the right choice:

1. With or without hood?
I think without is safer, to prevent baby from suffocating.

2. Zip in the middle or on the side?
I prefer zip on the side with zip guard, so my boy can't scratch his hands on it during the night.

3. Which material is the best?
Choose sleeping bag which is suitable for the season. It's important to choose the right tog. Tog is a warmth rating, the higher the tog, the warmer sleeping bag.

4. Whats my budget?
We want the best for our little ones and sometimes we buy the most expensive as a guarantee of quality. But expensive doesn't always mean better. It's important to take the best quality for value (think that you'll have to buy many more things for the baby).

Marks and Spencer is one of my favorite shop for baby clothes and their sleeping bag quality is great. They use soft cotton and prices are affordable. Their bags are cute, super soft and long with plenty of room to grow (move). As I already mentioned, they using a zip on the side with zip guard for extra comfort and safety.

Mummy tips:

- Make sure that sleeping bag fits properly around the neck and arms. You don't want your little one slip inside the bag.

- Do not use a sleeping bag with a quilt or duvet, so your baby wouldn't get too hot.

- Sleeping bags are not suitable for babies less than 4kg.

- I use the sleeping bag only at night (not when he naps during the day). So when he gets into it, he knows that it is for his long sleep. His mind is already used to it and he fall asleep almost every time in a few minutes.

I like them a lot and my son loves it too. Thanks to his blanket he stays warm all night long.
With the right sleeping bag, your baby is on the way to a good night sleep.

''Love''

Dusana

Being a Mom

2016-02-23T22:44:00.000+01:00

Last year in August I became a mom to a wonderful boy and he became the center of my world. It's crazy when I think he's already 6 months old.
When I found out I was pregnant, I was asking myself if I'm ready and now I wouldn't have it any other way. There were many people telling me how hard it will be, many sleepless nights, screaming, no time for myself, etc.
But, I think that every day is a struggle if you have a negative mind set.
Yes, being a new mom is probably the most challenging thing I've ever done. Yet, motherhood is the greatest job and privilege.

What is the best thing about being a mother?
Everything :-)
Being a mom is amazing, knowing you can love someone so much is indescribable.
I like making my little one smile and laugh. Seeing the way he's looking at me, the way he holds my hand or the way he's hugging me is wonderful.
The love I feel for him is stronger and stronger every day. I love seeing his eyes light up with every new discovery.
Being a mom has made me a better person. I feel more calm, more confident and stronger.
Being a mom is a joy.

Remember:
You are a great mom (you'll be a great mom). Listen your instinct, believe in yourself and the choices you make all day. Don't be afraid, do best you can.
You are a wonderful mother (you'll be a wonderful mother) !

''Love''

Dusana

''Birth takes a woman's deepest fears about herself and show her that she is stronger than them.''
~Unknown~

''The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.''
~Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh~

''Sometimes the strenght of motherhood is greater than natural laws.''
~Barbara Kingsolver~